OXFORD, Ala. --- The Mississippi College softball team opened the Gulf South Conference Tournament with a 4-3 win over #14 UAH on Thursday morning at Choccolocco Park.

The Lady Choctaws (19-19) never trailed in the upset win over the Chargers (30-11), who were ranked #1 win the South Region coming into the tournament.

MC will now face #8 Valdosta State in a Winner's Bracket game at 6:00 p.m.
 

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MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE 4, #14 UAH 3

HOW IT HAPPENED
  - The Lady Choctaws got off to a fast start with a pair of runs in the first inning on a two-run single from Jordan LaFosse.
  - Rayne Minor and McCall Lee led off with singles and moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt from Brooke Fagan.
  - The Chargers answered back with two runs in the 2nd on a two-run double from Gracie Green.
  - Lee gave the Lady Choctaws the lead back in the 3rd with a solo home run, her 7th of the season.
  - MC's 3-2 lead held until the 5th inning when Lila Young singled home Kiara Akles and the score was tied at 3-3.
  - The game remain tied into the 7th when led off with a single, advanced on an error and moved to third on a single by Lee.
  - She then came home to score the eventual game-winning run on Fagan's double-play ground ball.
  - The Chargers had their chance in the 7th as Akles led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
  - Young singled to right field, but Paige Hulin was able to cut down the game-tying run at the plate.
  - Avery Sanders struck out Alaina Hampton and left the game-tying run at 3rd to end the victory.

KEY STATS
  - Lee led the offense with three hits, while Minor and LaFosse also had two of MC's nine hits.
  - Minor and Lee also scored twice, while LaFosse led the way with two RBI.
  - Avery Sanders (10-13) came out of the bullpen to get the win, allowing three hits with three strikeouts over 2.2 innings.
  - Avery Barnett tossed 4.1 innings as the starter and gave up five hits and two earned runs.
  - Young had a team-high three hits for the Chargers, while Akles and Kaylee Vaught each had two hits.

NEXT UP
  - The Lady Choctaws will now face #8 Valdosta State at 6:00 p.m. in a Winner's Bracket contest.
  - The winner of the game will move on to the semifinals at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and began competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.
 
The athletic department sponsors 18 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Men's and Women's Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.
 
For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.